With Idaho's snowpack at about 130% so far this year, all signs are pointing to a great rafting season for the Northwest. Plus, big snowpack means great spring rafting - whether it's bigger rapids or being able to access rivers that are sometimes too low to raft in low snowpack years, big snowpack means a lot of spring fun.

For some river guides, the move to river season is as simple as driving their car with the few belongings they have to the warehouse. For the ones that have a semi-permanent residence in the winter, this process can be a bit more complicated. Either way, river guides get excited when their season comes around! Here's how we prepare to head back to our summertime homes.

In the middle of the 19th century, it became very clear that our natural landscape was changing dramatically, for the worst. We weren't taking care of our rivers, and it was very apparent; rivers were being dammed, modified, eroded and polluted faster than we could understand.

Have you even been rafting down the Moyie River? Have you ever even heard of this spectacular river? The Moyie is Idaho's hidden whitewater rafting gem. While relatively unknown, the Moyie is an exciting early-season (May to June) whitewater rafting day trip in North Idaho.

I was sick; really sick. The kind of sick many people experience when traveling overseas, where your guts feel like there is something living inside them. Tom and I were on an eight hour van ride from Huaraz to Puente Copuma with two other class V kayakers to run the Upper and Inner Gorges of the Río Marañón in Perú, possibly the biggest whitewater I had ever seen.

I’m going on the Middle Fork of the Salmon in one week. In. One. Week. Woohoo!!!! The past few weeks have done wonders to gradually build my anticipation; I have been reading books from the reading list and ensuring that I have all the gear recommended on the gear list to make for a successful trip.

I love it when I hear guests say “Well, this was NOT what I expected!” because they are always pleasantly surprised at how fun a multi-day river trip can be. I decided to compile my most commonly-heard misconceptions about multi-day whitewater trips from guests and explain them here. Enjoy!